MORNANT
is typical of what were once small
villages to the south-west of Lyon, in this case at a distance of 25
kms. In 1931, the population was 1,600.

By 2015, this had grown
to 5,600, and Mornant had become – almost – part of the Greater Lyon
area.

We met Marius in the story of Autocars Bruyas, but I can now enlarge on
his contribution to the transport history of the region.

Marius’ father,
François, was a baker by
trade but then ran the Café de la Mairie at Mornant with his wife.
Marius was born in 1900, and shared with his father a love of driving.
Marius delivered post by van during the First World War – although he
was only 15, his proficiency behind a steering-wheel was such that the
army gave him special dispensation. François later became a taxi driver.

PRE--WAR

According to his own account, Marius came on the bus scene in 1924.
It was 10 years later, when the authorities were coordinating transport
in the département, that under the law of 19 April 1934, operators had
to declare their routes for the purpose of registration.

It was a
corridor where both Balaye (Cars Lyonnais) and Transports Citroën were
also active.

It was also in
1934 that the OTL stopped running country trams to Mornant, and Marius
replaced the route with a bus. This was the beginning of an unending
squabble with the OTL, who the Jasserand family believed wanted to
reclaim the route.
And he had other things to occupy him, as he was an agent for
Chenard-Walker, for Chausson and for the Panhard/Somua/Willème group.
At the Lyon end of his route, he had premises at 13, cours de Verdun,
close to the Perrache station.

But somewhere
there may have been an error in his declaration, for In September 1932,
he wanted an authorization to begin a service from Lyon (Quai
Gailleton) to Mornant via Brignais and Taluyers, with 4 returns on
weekdays, and 7 on Sundays. The Ponts et Chaussées thought so too, and
noted on his declaration in 1934 that maybe not all his services had
begun in 1924.

During these
years, you will find a similar objection from OTL in every file where a
route would have its terminus in Lyon. Usually it was settled by an
undertaking not to accept local traffic along the OTL portion of the
route.
In this case, all the local councils along the route had sent in copies
of their votes in favour of the new bus service, and authorizations
were accorded on 5 September and 30 December 1933. But he was
permanently ‘at war’ with OTL.

In his 1934
declaration, Mr Jasserand stated that six vehicles were owned: 3 were
23 seat Berliet 16hp new on 10/03/1933, one was a 23 seat Berliet 19hp
new in February 1921, one was a 37 seat Latil 21hp new in 1931, and one
was a coach for excursions, a Rochet (Schneider) 14 seater, 19hp new in
1930.

An undated and
incomplete vehicle list in the file appears to relate to the same
period, and so is reproduced here. There are definite links with the
1934 declaration.
It specifies that two coaches are used (23 seaters) mainly for winter
sports excursions to Isère and Savoie.

Mr Jasserand
owned the rights to the service from Soucieu en Jarret to Lyon, which
he had created himself in 1932. In December 1936 he sold the route –
from 01/01/1937 – to Joannès BRUYAS, 22, quai Perrache, Lyon, at a
price of 20,000 FRF.

Subsequent
friction between the two businesses over their respective rights
spilled over in to frequent exchanges of letters (see the story of Autocars Bruyas).

In 1936/37, Jasserand became an agent for Berliet, and during the war,
worked for some time in 1939 at the Venissieux factory, until he was
needed by his own business as there was a shortage of drivers.

A Marius Jasserand vehicle some
time before 1939.

The 1939 timetable for Sundays–
note that Jasserand operates as a sub-contractor to OTL – and with a
timing at 00.15 hours!!

The 1939 timetable for weekdays

Lyon – Mornant : 1939 fare table

Lyon – Taluyers: 1939 fare table

WARTIME

1940
In war-time, Jasserand was authorized to run:
Lyon Perrache to Taluyers – 3 daily returns
Craponne to Mornant – 3 daily returns
It was the responsibility of OTL to supply the fuel, as Jasserand was
classified as a sub-contractor.

1941
Yes, Jasserand was a sub-contractor to OTL, but there were practical
problems with the wartime Lyon - St. Just - Vaugneray service.
Passengers had to take the funicular from Lyon to St. Just, then the
train to Craponne, then the Jasserand bus to Vaugneray (not knowing
whether there would be room in the bus). At best, this involved 2
changes of vehicle for a relatively short distance. Jasserand wanted to
use trailer gas buses to cover the whole route. OTL agreed on 8 July
1941, the Lyon terminus being fixed at place Benoît Crépu.

1942
Lyon – Brignais. On 6 July 1942, l’Entreprise Richoud (formerly owned
by Mr Candelaresi) ceased all operations on this corridor. As a case of
war-time expediency, A. Balaye was authorized to run 3 returns per day
on a temporary basis. And Jasserand, who ran on the corridor as an OTL
sub-contractor, was proposing to abandon OTL season tickets on the
route. Naturally there was friction between Balaye and Jasserand over
service frequency and duplication on the route. This was eventually
resolved on 28 July 1947. After negotiations and probably compensation
in some form, Mr Balaye accepted that Mr Jasserand would take over the
ex Richoud services – 4 returns on weekdays, between 8 and 12 on
Sundays, effective on 11 August 1947.

1945
Mr Jasserand complained about the poor state of his tyres, as a result
of which he was reducing services as from 12 June 1945 – only one
return trip on Taluyers – Orliénas – Lyon and only four vehicles on the
Mornant to Lyon service.

POST WAR

1946In January 1946,
Marius Jasserand requested a licence to carry parcels and goods on
Mornant – Lyon, using a 2.5 ton van. A full licence was refused, but an
authorization for ‘messageries’ was accorded.
He purchased new vehicles – 2 Chausson, 2 Berliet, 2 Saurer, and the
Lyon terminus was either ar Cours Verdun or place Benoit Crépu.
In the winter, all vehicles were garaged in the open, except for two
lucky ones kept in a garage at rue Villeneuve.

1949
On 1 July 1949, the business was authorized to introduce a market day
service on the first Friday of each month, between Mornant and
Rontalon/Le Pinay.

1951 Timetables

Lyon to
Mornant on Sundays

Lyon to Mornant on weekdays

Lyon to Taluyers

1952

Headed
notepaper in 1952

The business also operated a Messimy to
Vaugneray via Brindas market service. This ran on Tuesdays – an inward
journey 08.00 to 08.25 and back 11.00 to 11.25. It was originally
authorized on 3 April 1947.

Declaration of the
Vaugneray service in 1952

It also now ran St. Sorlin – Mornant – Lyon
(one return on Thursdays and on Fridays, with extra journeys during the
Foire de Lyon and in the summer months).

Timings in December 1952 on the St Sorlin –
Mornant section were 07.20 > 07.30 and return 19.45>19.55 on
Thursdays, 10.00>10.10 and 16.30>16.40 on Sundays, and had been
authorized by the Comité Technique Départemental on 29 February 1952 as
a trial. St Sorlin was 3.5 kms away from Mornant and was home to an
orphanage, put forward, with the approval of the mayor, as a good
reason for having a bus service.

With the creation of a new département plan
de transport, the Jasserand services were described in December 1952 as:
Taluyers to Lyon
Mornant to Lyon via Brindas
Mornant to Lyon via Brignais

However, on 26 December 1952, Marius Jasserand sold all his transport
business and routes to the Sté Poulat et
Driot, Mornant*,with effect
from 1 January 1953. The purchase price was 19,850,000 FRF, of which
7,850,000 FRF was for the rights to the routes. Here is the detailed
description, taking account of the département transport plan for 1953:

TALUYERS to LYON via Sept Chemins and Orliénas.
Rights in 1952 – 4 returns daily (extension to Mornant possible on
Fridays). No local traffic on section St. Genis Laval to Lyon (protocol
of 28/04/39).
Rights applicable from 01/01/53 – three daily returns on weekdays, 4 on
Sundays and Bank Holidays.